Using Nave's Bible Guide - A Kabbalist walks into a bar, and the

various passages of Scripture that bear on this subject. Look them up one after another and study them carefully and see
just what their teaching is. When you have gone through them you will know far more about prayer than you ever knew
before, and far more than you could learn by reading any books that men have written about prayer, profitable as many
of these books are. Sometimes it will be necessary to look up other subjects that are closely related to the one in hand.
For example, you wish to study what the teaching of God's Word is regarding the atonement. In this case you will not
only look under the head ATONEMENT, but also under the head BLOOD, and under the head JESUS, THE
CHRIST(DEATH OF). To do this work a concordance is not necessary but it is often very helpful. For example, if you are
studying the subject "Prayer" you can look up from the concordance the passages that contain the words "pray," "prayer,"
"cry," "ask," "call," "supplication," "intercession," etc. But the Textbook will give most of the passages on any subject
regardless of what the words used in the passage may be. Other passages will be found in the section on Bible Doctrines
under their proper headings.
There are four important suggestions to make regarding Topical Study of the Bible.
1. First: Be systematic. Do not take up subjects for study at random. Have a carefully prepared list of the subjects you
wish to know about, and need to know about, and take them up one by one, in order. If you do not do this, the
probability is that you will have a few pet topics and will be studying these over and over until you get to be a crank
about them, and possibly a nuisance. You will know much about these subjects, but about many other subjects
equally important you will know nothing. You will be a one-sided Christian.
2. Second: Be thorough. When you take up a subject do not be content to study a few passages on this subject, but find
just as far as possible every passage in the Bible on this subject. If you find the Textbook incomplete make additions
of your own to it.
3. Third: Be exact. Find the exact meaning of every passage given in the Textbook on any subject. The way to do this
is simple. In the first place note the exact words used. In the next place get the exact meaning of the words used.
This is done by finding how the word is used in the Bible. The Bible usage of the word is not always the common use
of today. For example, the Bible use of the words "sanctification" and "justification" is not the same as the common
use. Then notice what goes before and what comes after the verse. This will oftentimes settle the meaning of a verse
when it appears doubtful. Finally see if there are any parallel passages. The meaning of many of the most difficult
passages in the Bible is made perfectly plain by some other passages that throws light upon them. Then parallel
passages are given in the margin of a good reference Bible and still more fully in "The Treasury of Scripture
Knowledge," a volume worthy of a place in the library of every Bible student.
4. Fourth: Arrange the results of your topical study in an orderly way and write them down. One should constantly use
pen and paper in Bible study. When one has gone through the Textbook on any subject, he will have a large amount
of material, but he will want to get it into usable shape. The various passages given on any topic in the Textbook are
classified, but the classification is not always just the one best adapted to our individual use. Take for example the
subject "Prayer." The classification of texts in the topic is very suggestive, but a better one for some purposes would
be:
• Who Can Pray so that God Will Hear?
• To Whom to Pray.
• For Whom to Pray.
• When to Pray.
• Where to Pray.
• For what to Pray.
• How to Pray.
• Hindrances to Prayer.
• The Results of Prayer.
The passages given in the Textbook would come under these heads. It is well to make a trial division of the subject
before taking up the individual passages given and to arrange each passage as we take it up under the appropriate
head. We may have to add to the divisions with which we began as we find new passages. The best classification of
passages for any individual is the one he makes for himself, although he will get helpful suggestions from others.
There are some subjects that every Christian should study and study as soon as possible. We give a list of these:
• Sin [SIN]
• The Atonement (of the Blood of Christ) [ATONEMENT]
• Justification [JUSTIFICATION]
• The New Birth [LIFE(SPIRITUAL), SALVATION(CONDITIONS OF)]
• Adoption [ADOPTION]
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